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Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman have finally entered the Stanley Cup Final to face the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena in Florida on June 8. Game 1 kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday.
The journey to the final has brought unexpected support for Draisaitl from fellow German sports icon Dirk Nowitzki. It's well-known that Nowitzki has supported the NHL's Dallas Stars in the past. So this came as a surprise for Draisaitl, who was not expecting a message from Nowitzki.
"I got a message from Dirk Nowitzki, which made me very happy because, as far as I know, he was cheering for the Stars," Draisaitl said.
Former NBA professional Dirk Nowitzki, who hails from Wurzburg, became an NBA champion in 2011 with the Dallas Mavericks. Leon Draisaitl, on the other hand, despite being one of the Edmonton Oilers and the NHL's best scorers, is yet to win a championship. But this time Draisaitl has the chance to win the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.
The team, along with Draisaitl and other players, has taken ample rest since winning the Western Conference final against the Dallas Stars. They defeated the Stars in just six games with a record of 4-2. So, they are ready to start strong against the Panthers.
In his 10th season playing for the Oilers, Draisaitl has finally entered his first Stanley Cup Final. He has been getting ample support from his home country.
"I've received a lot of messages, which I really appreciate," Draisaitl said (via NHL.com). "I was very happy about the support back home in Germany. I hope that as many people as possible tune in and watch the games, which will be difficult because of the time difference."
The Edmonton Oilers are aiming for their first Stanley Cup since 1990.
Leon Draisaitl talks about meeting Mark Messier
Leon Draisaitl shares a unique connection with Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Messier, dating back to when Messier practiced with Draisaitl's father, Peter, in Germany. Draisaitl's NHL journey began after being drafted by the Oilers in 2014, and he met Messier for the first time that year.
"I remember meeting 'Mess' before I got drafted. I guess they [Messier and Peter Draisaitl] practiced together back in the day," Leon said before heading to Florida. "I don't really remember what we talked about ... it was 11 years ago ... but it was certainly amazing meeting Mess and talking to him a little bit."
Now in his 10th NHL season, Leon Draisaitl has scored 28 points in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, second only to teammate Connor McDavid.
